May 6, 2014 (Orlando, Fla.) – This morning, SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) returned Trooper, a male manatee, to the Tomoka River waters in Ormond Beach, Fla., after receiving care and rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando for the past nine months.

Trooper was rescued by FWC from the Tomoka River on August 31, 2013, due to a watercraft injury. At the time of rescue, he had several broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Following his rescue, FWC transported him to SeaWorld Orlando, where he received medical treatment and rehabilitation, including antibiotics, tube feeding and other supportive care. Trooper was also placed in a wetsuit to help him with his buoyancy issue.

Trooper received his name because of the obstacles he overcame from his severe injuries. He had multiple surgeries and continued to pull through them all.

After being medically cleared for today’s return, Trooper was transported by SeaWorld's Animal Rescue Team to Ormond Beach, where he was originally found. As of this morning, Trooper measured 8.5 feet long and weighed 785 pounds.

Later this week, SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team will be returning another manatee home to the Florida waters.

So far in 2014, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued five and returned six manatees back to their natural environment. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the waters. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 23,000 animals in need - ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned - for more than four decades.

If you see injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

As part of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), SeaWorld Orlando is an acute care rehabilitation facility that provides life-saving medical care to rescued manatees.

The MRP is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together to monitor the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees. Information about manatees currently being tracked is available at www.manateerescue.org. The endangered Florida manatee is at risk from both natural and man-made causes of injury and mortality. Exposure to red tide, cold stress, and disease are all natural problems that can affect manatees. Human-caused threats include boat strikes, crushing by flood gates or locks, and entanglement in or ingestion of fishing gear.

All manatee rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911.